Elevator



No. 6|2,722. Patented Oct. l8, I898. C. l. HALL.

ELEVATOR.

(Appliation filed Apr. 29, L897. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet-l.

W itnesses Attorney arms 00.. PHOTOJJTHOU WASHINGTON, D. c,

No. 612,722. Patented Oct. l8, I898. C. I. HALL.

ELEVATOR.

7 (Application filed Apr. 29, 1897;) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-$heet 2.

I a W Wz'inesses: [22 0622101:

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

V COFRAN I. HALL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CAHILL 82: HALL ELEVATORECOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 612,722, dated October 18, 1898. Application filed April 29, 1897. Serial No. 634,429. (No model.) Patented in England January 17,1894, No. 1,040. 7

T0 aZZ whoml. it may concern.-

Be it known that I,COFRAN I. HALL, acitizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevators, (patented in Great Britain, No. 1,040, dated January 17, 1894;) and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification. My invention relates to elevators for raising and lowering passengers and goods by means of hydraulic pressure acting on a piston and from thence by suitable gearing and connections to a cage to be raised or lowered at such relative speed, range, and force as the power of the actuating-piston and intervening mechanism may determine.

My invention consists of a main actuating hydraulic cylinder and a diiferential piston therein having difierent efiective area on the sides thereof, constituting a counterbalance for some predetermined part of a load to beraised by the piston, and a four-way pistonvalve or combination of Valves connected and moving in one line, and around one axis that distribute and control the water acting upon the main actuatingpiston.

The objects of my invention are to dispense with the usual counterweights employed to balance in part the dead-weight of the cage, such dead-weight being the gravity of the cage and its accessories less the amount required to overcome friction of the machinery during descent; also, to control and distribute the impelling-water by a single valve and one motion. To attain compensation without the use of counterweights, I so construct the acimpelling-fiuid in the actuating-cylinder and permit the cage to descend the machinery is at all times in equilibrium. The methods I employ to attain thispart of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure I is a diagram to explain the method of operating the main piston. Fig. II is a side elevation of a hydraulic-elevator cylinder and connected apparatus constructedaccording to my invention. Fig. III is a section through the automatic stop-valve to arrest motion at each end of the cages movement. Fig. IV is an enlarged longitudinal section through the axis of the distributing and controlling valves.

The same letters of reference apply in common' to corresponding parts in Figs. II, III, and IV. The diagram Fig. I has independent references.

Referring first to the diagram Fig. I, 1 is the cylinder; 2, the piston; 3, the piston-rod; 4, a transfer or passover pipe connecting the two ends of the cylinder, and 5 a supply-pipe from the source of pressure; 0, a waste-pipe to empty one end of the cylinder 1. 7 are the usual multiplying-pulleys, and 8 a wire rope extending to the cage or load to be raised and lowered. Explainingby means of I this diagram the action of the water in the impellingcylinder it will be seen that the chamber 10 on one side of the piston 2 is constantly exposed to the static or workin g pressure of the water from the pipe 5, and when the cock 11 is open, to the chamber 9, both sides of the piston 2 are exposed to this same pressure, with the dilference, however, that the area of the piston 2 is reducedin the chamber 9 by so much as the area of the cross-section of the Consequently there is an out- 2 tiara? the end of its inward stroke and that a load is to be raised, then the cock 12 is opened and the water in the chamber 9 escapes through the pipe 6, relieving that side of the The cock 11 being piston 2 from pressure. closed, the whole area of the piston 2 in the chamber is exposed to the pressure of the water passing through the pipe 5, so the piston 2 is forced outward, raising the load. In descending or during the inward stroke of the piston 2 the cock 12 is shut and the cook 11 is opened, so that the water in the cham ber 10 is free to flow through the pipe i into the chamber 9 but as the capacity of this chamber is reduced by so much as the cubic contents of the piston-rod 3 within the cylinder a volume of Water equal to this difieronce is forced back through the pipe 5 and that much of the water and energy are saved to be applied again in effective work. This action of the Water in the impelling-cylinders is explained separately from the controlling and automatic valves and their gearing, and by means of two simple stop-cocks 1]. and 12, so as to avoid the complication that would exist ifcontrol by a single valve were included. at the same time.

Referring next to Figs. II, III, and IV, these I include the devices for controlling the iiow and action of the water and movements of the main hydraulic piston. Fig. II shows a hydraulic cylinder and apparatus made according to my invention. A is the main cyl inder with a piston-rod B, rope-sheaves C G a main controlling-valve I), and an automatic stop-valve E, the latter operated by a rod F and the spiral tappets G G these latter being turned right and left by the pin II, attached to the piston-rod B or its cross-h cad B The tappet I-I enters the spiral slots,seen in the 'tappets G G turning the rod F right and left, and by means of the crank I, link J, and crank K opening and closing the valve E positively and automatically at the extremes of the stroke of the piston independent of the main Valve D at the extreme of the range of the elevator-cage. In order to understand the action and the functions of this automatic valve E, reference is made to Fig. III, which shows a central transverse section of the same. There is-acentral oscillating shaft 0, on which are two opposite arms M M, and to these are attached the pivoted valve-flaps N N, adapted to cover, respectively, the ports or passages P I It will be seen that when the shaft 0 is turned to close either of the ports P the other port will be open, the flow being closed in one direction only. If the flow is reversed, the closing-valve swings back, offering no obstruction to the fluid flowing through both valves in one direction. In this manner the flow of the fluid and the movement of the piston and elcvator'are stopped in one direction; but when reversed by action of the main controlling-valve D the stop-valve E offers no obstruction to the reversed flow of the fluid until the other extreme stroke is reached, when by action of the mechanism before described the valve again closes.

Referring next to the main controllingvalve D, (represented in enlarged section in Fig. IV,) the main shell or casing is composed of five sections Q Q Q Q Q These sections are held together by means of rods or bolts R R, extending the whole length, as shown. The section Q is provided with a Waste or discharge nozzle T the sections Q Q with inlets or circulating-nozzles T T and the section Q with a supply-nozzle T as shown in Figs. II and III, the nozzle T being in the case of Fig. IV turned ninety degrees from the position in Fig. II to enable easier description. The sections Q, Q Q and Q fit together at the joints 2 eewith short telescoping nipples that bear upon and expand elastic packing-rings a a a. These packingrings perform the double function of sealing the joints 6 e e and at the same time embracing and forming a close water-packing around the shells or barrels U U The first or main internal shell or chamber U is secured by a rim or flange I), held under the cap IV. V, V and V are leather-packed pistons of the usual kind, and V is an unpacked disk or flange, permitting water to pass slowly, as will be explained farther on. The four pistons V V V V are all rigidly mounted on or may be formed integrally with the tube X. This tube, forming an axis of the pistons named, is open at each end, as shown, and has perforations c in the chamber Y, admitting supply-water between the two small pistons d and (1 also perforations o admitting supply-water to the chamber Y as will be presently explained. The rod Z and pistons cl, (Z and d are moved by the sliding rack g, the toothed segment h, and the wheel 1' by means of a rope or chain passing around the latter in the usual manner.

Referring next to the operation, the chamber Y is constantly filled and under pressure of the supply-water from the inlet-nozzle T and the piston V not being a close one the inner or opposite faces of the pistons V and V are'subjected to the same pressure, exerting a force each way in proportion to their areas; but as the piston V is much larger than the one V there is a force to the right or outward that tends to move the tube X and all connected pistons in that direction; but the chamber Y being filled with water this forms a stop,so no movement can take place until the rod Z is moved outward until the small piston 65 passes out of the tube X, so that the water in the chamber Y can pass through the small ports 0 0 into the tube X and out at its end into the chamber Y from where it escapes by a wasteway 7a. This relieves the piston V from pressure in the chamber Y and the tube X, with its attached pistons, moves to the right. It will be seen that this movement is progressive, the main pistons and the tube X follow IIO ing the rod Z and the small piston d which if overtaken by the tube X closes the end of this tube and locks the water contained in the chamber Y so the movement of the main pistons and the tube X follows inexact relation the movements of the rod Z and the small pistons d, d and 01 The reverse movement of the tube X and its attached pistons is performed by moving the rod Z and the pistons d, (1*, and d to the left or inward until the small piston 01 passes beyond the ports 0 c and the piston 61 closes the end of the tube X. This permitsthe supply-water from the chamber Y to rush into the tube X through the ports 0 0, out at the ports 0 o, filling the chamber Y and putting the large piston V into equilibrium, so the piston V will move to the left and to the position shown in the drawings. In this position the water willpass from the supply-chamber Y past the loose-fitting disk or piston V into the nozzle T and through the valve E to the inner end y of the main cylinder A; but no movement of the main piston or piston-rod B can take place, because the other or outer end (1 of the main cylinder A is filled with entrapped water, forming an abutment. To finish the outward stroke of the piston B and raise the cage of the elevator, the rod Z is farther advanced, the tube X and its pistons following, until the piston V passes over the ports min the shell U". Then the entrapped water in the outer end q of the main cylinder A rushes up the pipe 1 through the nozzle T into the chamber Y and out through the waste-pipe n. This constitutes the working stroke of the main piston B and raises the elevator-cage. When the downward stroke is to be made, the rod Z is moved to the right or outward, the tube X and the pistons thereon following, in the manner before explained, until the piston V is so far advanced in the chamber Y that Water can pass from the nozzle T to the nozzle T or circulate from the inner end of the main cylinder A to the outer end q, putting the main piston (except as to the area of the piston rod or plunger B) into equilibrium, and the cage will descend. The cubic capacity of the end q of the main cylinder A is reduced by so much as the contents of the immersed portion of the main piston-rod B, as has been shown by means of the diagram Fig. I, and an equal volume of water cannot enter the chamber Y, but is forced back into the chamber Y and out at the nozzle T? against the supply-pressure.

The retarding or check piston V which is made a little smaller than the bore in which it moves, is to prevent rapid backflow of the water from the chamber Y to the chamber Y in case too heavy a load is placed on the elevator-cage greater than the supply-pressure will sustain or in case the supply-pressure should from any cause be diminished or fail. When in the position shown, it guards against a rush of water past this piston or disk, and consequently against rapid or dangerous descent of a cage or load.

Having thus explained the nature and objects of my improvements in hoisting andlowering machinery, I claim- 1. In a'hydraulic elevator, a main impelling-piston sustaining constant pressure on one side and variable pressure on the other side, a passage leading to the constant-pressure side having therein an automatic stopvalve, means operated by the main impellingpiston for controlling said stop-valve and arresting orperrnittingthe flow of waterthrough the valve in either direction, a main controlling-valve having a constant-supply nozzle T, a nozzle T connecting with the automatic stop-valve, a branch connection Z to the variable-pressure side of the main piston, and a Waste-outlet or: also pistons controlling waterways respectively between, first, the supply-nozzle T and the passage T to the stopvalve; second, between the passage '1? and the branch connection Z; and, third, between the branch connection Z and the waste-pipe 'n; and a differential auxiliary Valve with pistons controlling the movements of the pistons of the main controlling-valve, substantially as specified.

2. In a hydraulic elevator, a main impelling-piston sustaining constant pressure on one side and variable pressure on the other side; pipes and passages to conduct water from one side of the piston to the other, and in combination therewith a controlling main valve provided with inlets and outlets, four in number; and valve-pistons V, V V and a restraining-valve V, all set in alinement, moving together by means of water-pressure, and controlled by auxiliary valves, cl, (Z (Z moving in the axis of the main controllingvalve all operating dependently and by one movement, produced by an attendant, substantially' as specified.

3. In a hydraulic elevator, a main impelling-piston, sustaining a constant pressure on one side proportionate to the piston area, said piston having a diminished area on the other side due to a piston-rod in the cylinder-chamber, giving a proportionally-diminished pressure, a supply-pipe on the constant-pressure side having an automatic stop-valve therein,

a'branch pipe on the diminished-pressu re side of the main piston, and a waste-passage connecting with the said diminished pressure side, in combination with a main controllingvalve, having a supply-nozzle,said main valve controlling the passage of liquid between, first, said supply-nozzle and the automatic stop-valve; second, between the said stopvalve and the said branch pipe, and, third, between the said branch pipe and the wastepassage respectively, substantially as specified.

4. In a hydraulic elevator, in combination rod X, pistons V, V V loose piston V inv ner pistons 01, d d passages c and 0, and I0 piston-rod Z, all substantially as specified.

Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

COFRAN I. HALL.

Witnesses:

H. J. LANG, J os. B. KEENAN. 

